This 13-inch laptop that I recommend for business travel is not a Lenovo ThinkPad or MacBook.

Key findings from ZDNET

• Lenovo ThinkBook 13x fourth generation starts at $1,580 for an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB of RAM.
• It’s surprisingly versatile for its 13-inch size and packs a powerful processor and an impressive battery.
• However, its ultraportable form factor limits it to only having USB-C ports.

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Despite its compact form factor, ThinkBook 13x fourth generation is a power plant. Lenovo first showed off this ultraportable laptop at CES 2024, and early impressions centered on the return of Magic Bay, a family of combo peripherals that connect to the laptop using magnetic pins (think MagSafe, but for laptops).

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But even though Magic Bay’s products may be getting the most attention, it’s this one Lenovo laptop it has a lot more features under the hood. In fact, this laptop is surprisingly versatile.

The ThinkBook 13x Gen 4 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (2.4GHz) processor, but can be configured with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor—an option I was surprised to see for this laptop—allowing it to match other high-end enterprise machines (with This increases the price by more than $400).

Review unit I tested With the Ultra 5 it was reasonably fast, and I had absolutely no problem multitasking with multiple productivity apps and multiple browser tabs across two displays. Additionally, this laptop is compact enough to be easily transported to and from the office, which makes me wonder why I chose a 16-inch laptop as my primary driver.

But then I started working on the 13.5-inch display and remembered. Don’t get me wrong, the ThinkBook 13x Gen 4’s display looks good—very good, in fact, with 500 nits of brightness and a 120Hz variable refresh rate. But due to its size, even at maximum resolution, the screen may feel a little cramped if you’re used to larger spaces. Ultimately, it’s a trade-off that comes down to personal preference.

However, this laptop’s performance and versatility tip the scales in a positive direction. In my benchmarking This laptop I got stable read and write speeds from the SSD PKMark 10and slightly better performance compared to Intel Core Ultra 5 Cinebench than I expected.

The ThinkBook 13x’s memory is also one of the fastest in an ultraportable laptop of its size, with dual-channel 8400 MHz RAM soldered in to future-proof the laptop. But if you go for Intel Core Ultra 5, the maximum amount of RAM you can get is 16GB. To increase it to 32GB, you’ll have to use a Core Ultra 9 chip. I’d like to see a 32GB option available with a less expensive processor.

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In that sense, this laptop is looking to the future rather than trying to be backwards compatible, and that shows in the choice of ports. This device has three USB-C ports, all of which are compatible with Thunderbolt 4. With three Thunderbolt connectors, you don’t really need HDMI or USB-A, but it does have a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the power button is also a fingerprint scanner .

Despite its small size, the keyboard feels spacious and clear. Its unique design extends the keyboard to the very edge of the device with virtually no bezels, resulting in keys that are the same size (or even larger) than you’d see on a 16-inch screen. The lack of a right numeric keypad makes this even worse.

The chassis of this laptop comes in a metallic “Moon Grey” color scheme and a limited edition white color called “Seashell” which I’d like to see up close and personal since the default gray color looks completely corporate.

That said, the ThinkBook 13x feels extremely durable—I’d even say it’s made of iron—with virtually no flex or flex in the chassis. Its durability is measured by 12 military-grade certification methods, meeting MIL-STD 810H. If you like this style of laptop, you’ll love this laptop, which despite its size is very durable.

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Okay, let’s talk about Magic Cove. If you like laptop accessories or have a drawer full of webcams, be sure to check this out. The modular versatility of the Magic Bay ecosystem gives this laptop (and other Lenovo machines that support it) the ability to wear many hats, depending on the accessories you like.

For example, Magic Bay Light can act as a ring light if you take calls in less than optimal lighting, or LTE Magic Bay Hotspot can protect your Internet connection if Wi-Fi is unstable. There are also more obvious additions, such as external storage, fans (for you, not the laptop), or even a second display, although these are in various stages of development and availability.

This Magic Bay StudioHowever, this is the most useful addition. It’s a 4K webcam with built-in speakers that takes this laptop into territory aimed at creative people. It remains to be seen how far Lenovo will go with the Magic Bay products, but I think it could work well if implemented wisely.

If you’re wondering what all these extras have to do with battery life, luckily the ThinkBook 13x doesn’t lack for that. It comes with a 74Wh battery, which is quite a large capacity for a 13-inch screen.

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In my testing, I got over 10 hours in the PCMark 10 battery test and slightly less than that in my own test with a YouTube live stream at 50% brightness and 50% volume over Wi-Fi. This is definitely a laptop that can easily handle a full day of hard work and last well into a second day with light or occasional use.

The last thing that surprised me about this laptop was the sound quality. The Harman Kardon speakers have impressive bass and volume, especially for such a small car, further enhancing its versatility.

ZDNET Buying Tips

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile 13″ laptop, take a serious look at Lenovo ThinkBook 13x fourth generation. At $1,580, the powerful processor, long battery life, and Magic Bay make it a solid 13-inch choice, especially for remote and hybrid workers.

If you want a 13″ laptop with similar specs but on a smaller budget, MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is a reliable alternative that starts at $899. If you like ThinkBooks but are looking for a larger screen, consider Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1.